Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-22
NON-ClsURC11 s.OERS.
An Interesting Meeting Of Rcpresenta.
tiScs Of Various Religious OrgaMtxa-
tions To-Day.

The large room OF the Central Union Mission at
No. $50 Pennsylvania avenue was filled 10 over
flowing to-day by an audience composed OF ladies
and the pastors and representative laymen OF varl-
Gus churches and religious organizations In this
city, who were gathered together IN convention by
invitation or the advisory board OF the Central
Union Mission for the purpose or considering
'tiospel work among the non-church-going
classes" Dr. wyncoop presided, as Dr. Little was
detained by sickness.
AT 9:a0 am. the convention was opened by de-
yoiional services conducted by the Rev. 3 ii. Had
daway.
MILLIONS NOT REACHED BY THE GOSPEL
Rev. T. & ChIlds discussed the topic. Facts and
Figures as TO the Non-church-going Masses OF the
District OF Columbia" He said that the problem
OF reaching the masses outside or the Christian
churches is the great problem OF to-day. Although
the gospel has been In the world more than egh-
teen centuries, yet the great mass OF people Is
reached or the worlds population OF 0ooooooo
more than 900 100000 are outside even a nomi-
nal gospel! The population of the United states Is
about 60,000,o0o, and IL Is safe TO say that not
30oO0OOo are effectively reached by the gospel"
REFERRING TO WASHINGTON,
DIR. Little stated that "about eighteen months ago
a canvass OF Washington and West Washington
showed a population OF about 100000; or this
number about 173Oo0 are contained In the city
proper; $4,000 In West Washington, and about
$1,000 in the suburbs. We have OF all kinds.
white and colored, Protestant and Romanist,
about 110 places of worship. There are about
1873 or l:s4 evangelical places OF worship embrac.
Ing 10000 communities with possibly aecommo-
dations for 10000 people. For a popuia-
ton OF 100000 I'm this city there ara
not less than 100000 who are outside
the communion OF the evangelical church"
Continuing Dr. Little said IL Is safe TO say there
are more than one hundred thousand persons In
church-Erangelical. Romanst or otherwise! It
would be much nearer the truth 10 say that there
are
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY eTHorsASD WHO NEVER
ATTEND CHURCH.
lido not know as IL belongs 10 me to say any
thing as TO the way OF reaching this work, yet
may say that IL must be done and would endorse
most heartily what one OF our best preachers In
New York has said: We must go where men con-
greSate II We Wish 10 Win Them 10 Christ.
DEPARTMENT CLERKS.
The Rev. E. ID. Bailey followed Dr. Little with
few remarks, in which he said, speaking OF the
government department S: "They are fun OF young
men who came to this city as Christian
men and igll OF Christian principle, but
and their influence is now far from
good. This is because they fail TO Identify them
selves with any church or religious organization
when first they come here, away from their homes
and friends. This problem is threefod, " he said.
referring TO church attendance, land, first we
have the question how 70 reach the men ana
women in the departments; second, the middle
class, who are not clerks, but men in other bus.
nesses; and, third the immense colored popula-
tion in this city, who are like, TO US, the
foreign population OF Chicago, New York and other
large cities. In such city this, and under such
circumstances the interests or the white popula-
ton must depend largely upon the character Of
the colored population and we must not therefore
neglect the evangelical work among them"
Short addresses were made by Revs. Needham,
Smith and Kelly. The Rev. DIR. Butler followed
with few observations what we need" said he
sis not the conversion OF the unconyerted, but
the conversion OF the church."
After a discussion by the Rev. c. n. Richardson
upon the topic "What is being done by the
churches missions young mems Christian associa-
tons and branches ETC., 10 reach this class? the
morning session was closed with the reading OF
ports from the various organizations for religious
work and teaching I'm the city and short talks by
pastors upon the work In their own churches.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
Among those who contributed to the afternoon
session OF the convention were the Revs b. Sun
derland ID. w. Faunce. C. w. Baldwin and s. Ii.
Green, who spoke OF their personal experience In
the great work and the best methods OF work;
also, what should be done 70 make the work moro
effective and systematic.
Reports were read from the Young Men'sChrfs-
tan Association and branches thereof, 10y Hon.
John w: Foster; Women,s Christian Temperance
Union, by Mrs. S. ID. La Fetra: Bethel mission, by
Dr. Il. H. Grant; Guardian League, by Rev. Flor
ence Mccarthy; WashingtonCity Bible Society, by
Rev. NJ, T. Smell; work among the Chinese 10y MrH
.. Hall; Temperance Alliance,by Mr.. II. b.
Moulton; religious work at reform school,
by Dr. j. c. Carpenter; Newsboys and Chill
dren's Aid Society, by Mrs ID. X. James; Cen
trail Union mission and gospel wagon, by Mr..
Z. D. Bailey; Whitney ey-avenue mission, by Mr.. w.
A. Galley; Georgetown mission, by Mr.. w. L.
Lewis; sunday school Union, by MI ". II. Il.
Smith, New Jersey-ayenue mission, by Mr.. r. b.
Nixon; also reports and suggestions as 10 Chris
uan work In hospitals, workhouse, L. 3. jail, aims
house Hope and Help rooms, House Of Mercy,
church missions, etc.
This evening from 6:3O TO 7:3o pm. there Will
be praise service conducted by Rev. Joseph I.
siding, 1880 TO pm, brief addresses, by Or. W.
A. Bartlett, DIR. j. r. Newman, DR.. James h.
Cuthbert and others.